Itineraries | Negev Trip 2013

Wednesday, April 24, 2013

After transferring out of Jerusalem, we will leave for the ride after a short opening ceremony at Bar Giora, west of Jerusalem. All groups end at the beach town of Ashkelon, overlooking the Mediterranean Sea.

We will bike from Bar Giora down towards the Adolam region, biking past vineyards and ruins from the Roman era. We will also make a quick stop to see the hide out caves of Bar Kochva and then ride to Beit Guvrin national park. After exploring the ruins and caves here we will join the other groups for a picnic lunch. From here the group will transfer by bus to Ashkelon to enjoy the afternoon hours at the beach.

Thursday, April 25, 2013

Today’s ride will take us from the coastal region into the heart of the Negev Desert. All groups will meet at Sderot and end their ride at Mashabe Sade Kibbutz hotel.

We will transfer by bus out of Ashkelon to meet the other groups in Sderot, where we will hear a short introduction about the town and its recent history. From here we will bike along small roads passing the kibbutzim and moshavim of the Lachish and northern Negev regions. We will stop for lunch at Gvulot, at the historic site where this settlement was established in the 1940s. From here we transfer by bus to Mashbe Sade where we will spend the night.

Friday, April 26, 2013

Today’s ride will take us deeper into the Negev desert and will end at the town of Mitzpe Ramon, overlooking the Ramon Crater. This ride includes an optional mountain biking trail for Shoafim and Bogrim (mountain bikes provided by Ramah). In Mitzpe Ramon we will have time to prepare for Shabbat services and dinner.

Shoafim and Bogrim groups will ride together today. We will ride out of the hotel and head towards Sde Boker, where we will visit the burial site of David Ben Gurion at the outskirts of this pioneer desert research center. Following our visit to Sde Boker, we will have two options; riders may choose to take mountain bikes and head into the Zin Valley towards Ein Akev, one of the largest natural water sources in the Negev. After a refreshing swim, riders choosing this option will be transferred by bus to Mitzpe Ramon. Alternatively, riders may opt to continue riding on the desert roads into Mitzpe Ramon.

Saturday, April 26, 2013

No cycling today for all groups. We will daven together in the morning, Ramah style, and celebrate Shabbat together as a community. You will be free to walk along the cliff above the Ramon Crater or just relax at the hotel. After Havdallah, we will set out for a traditional Lag BaOmer bonfire!

Sunday, April 28, 2013

The ride will go from the high desert plain above the Ramon Crater and end at Ketura in the Arava region.

This group will bike out of Mitzpe Ramon and across the Ramon Crater. After passing through we will make a short transfer by bus and then continue to ride past the village of Shitim to Kibbutz Neot Smadar. We will stop for a short lunch break and then tour this unique desert community and the local art center. From here we will continue down the road to Kibbutz Ketura where we will be spending the night.

Monday, April 29, 2013

We will bike through the red rock mountains around Eilat and end at the shore of the Red Sea where we will meet for a toast. After freshening up at the hotel, we will celebrate all we have accomplished at a banquet dinner.

We will transfer by bus out of Kibbutz Ketura and start biking south towards Eilat. We will ride along the border with Egypt, looking into the Sinai Desert. This small road will take us from the Southern Negev to the Eilat Mountains. The road will climb up to the pass near Mt. Shlomo and from there we will descend towards Eilat on the shores of the Red Sea. We will ride straight for the beach and celebrate our arrival with a cold beer and a swim in the cool water.

Wednesday, April 24, 2013

After transferring out of Jerusalem, we will leave for the ride after a short opening ceremony at Bar Giora, west of Jerusalem. All groups end at the beach town of Ashkelon, overlooking the Mediterranean Sea.

We will bike from Bar Giora down towards the Adolam region, biking past vineyards and ruins from the Roman era. We will also make a quick stop to see the hide out caves of Bar Kochva and then ride to Beit Guvrin national park. After exploring the ruins and caves here we will join the other groups for a picnic lunch. From here the group will continue to ride through small towns and villages and reach the hotel in Ashkelon.

Thursday, April 25, 2013

Today’s ride will take us from the coastal region into the heart of the Negev Desert. All groups will meet at Sderot and end their ride at Mashabe Sade Kibbutz hotel.

You can choose between a bus transfer out of Ashkelon to Sderot or biking from the hotel in Ashkelon along the coast to Sderot where we will will hear a short introduction about the town and its recent history. From here we will bike along small roads passing the kibbutzim and moshavim of the Lachish and northern Negev regions. We will stop for lunch at Gvulot, at the historic site where this settlement was established in the 1940s. From here we will ride past sand dunes and open desert to Mashabe Sade where we will spend the night.

Friday, April 26, 2013

Today’s ride will take us deeper into the Negev desert and will end at the town of Mitzpe Ramon, overlooking the Ramon Crater. This ride includes an optional mountain biking trail for Shoafim and Bogrim (mountain bikes provided by Ramah). In Mitzpe Ramon we will have time to prepare for Shabbat services and dinner.

Shoafim and Bogrim groups will ride together today. We will ride out of the hotel and head towards Sde Boker, where we will visit the burial site of David Ben Gurion at the outskirts of this pioneer desert research center. Following our visit to Sde Boker, we will have two options; riders may choose to take mountain bikes and head into the Zin Valley towards Ein Akev, one of the largest natural water sources in the Negev. After a refreshing swim, riders choosing this option will be transferred by bus to Mitzpe Ramon. Alternatively, riders may opt to continue riding on the desert roads into Mitzpe Ramon.

Saturday, April 26, 2013

No cycling today for all groups. We will daven together in the morning, Ramah style, and celebrate Shabbat together as a community. You will be free to walk along the cliff above the Ramon Crater or just relax at the hotel. After Havdallah, we will set out for a traditional Lag BaOmer bonfire!

Sunday, April 28, 2013

The ride will go from the high desert plain above the Ramon Crater and end at Ketura in the Arava region.

This group will bike out of Mitzpe Ramon and across the Ramon Crater. After passing through we will ride through the dry riverbeds of the Southern Negev, past the village of Shitim to Kibbutz Neot Smadar. We will stop for a short lunch break and then tour this unique desert community and the local art center. From here we will continue down the road to Kibbutz Ketura where we will be spending the night.

Monday, April 29, 2013

We will bike through the red rock mountains around Eilat and end at the shore of the Red Sea where we will meet for a toast. After freshening up at the hotel, we will celebrate all we have accomplished at a banquet dinner.

We will take a short transfer by bus out of Kibbutz Ketura and start biking south towards Eilat. We will ride along the border with Egypt, looking into the Sinai Desert. This small road will take us from the Southern Negev to the Eilat Mountains. The road will climb up to the pass near Mt. Shlomo and from there we will descend towards Eilat on the shores of the Red Sea. We will ride straight for the beach and celebrate our arrival with a cold beer and a swim in the cool water.

Wednesday, April 24, 2013

After transferring out of Jerusalem, we will leave for the ride after a short opening ceremony at Bar Giora, west of Jerusalem. All groups end at the beach town of Ashkelon, overlooking the Mediterranean Sea.

We will start our ride with a loop towards Beit Shemesh and climb back up to the starting point, then bike down towards the Adolam region, biking past vineyards and ruins from the Roman era. We will also make a quick stop to see the hide out caves of Bar Kochva and then ride to Beit Guvrin national park. After exploring the ruins and caves here we will join the other groups for a picnic lunch. From here the group will continue to ride through small towns and villages and reach the hotel in Ashkelon.

Thursday, April 25, 2013

Today’s ride will take us from the coastal region into the heart of the Negev Desert. All groups will meet at Sderot and end their ride at Mashabe Sade Kibbutz hotel.

We will leave the hotel and bike along the coast and towards the town of Sderot where we will hear a short introduction about the town and its recent history. From here we will bike along small roads passing the kibbutzim and moshavim of the Lachish and northern Negev regions, adding a 20-mile loop before we meet the other groups. We will stop for lunch at Gvulot, at the historic site where this settlement was established in the 1940s. From here we will ride past sand dunes and open desert to Mashabe Sade where we will spend the night.

Friday, April 26, 2013

Today’s ride will take us deeper into the Negev desert and will end at the town of Mitzpe Ramon, overlooking the Ramon Crater. This ride includes an optional mountain biking trail for Shoafim and Bogrim (mountain bikes provided by Ramah). In Mitzpe Ramon we will have time to prepare for Shabbat services and dinner.

We will start our day early, leaving the hotel by bus and driving down to the Arava Valley to begin our ride by cycling along the Peace Trail, one of the prettiest roads in Israel, that passes along the Israel Jordanian border.  After that warm up, we will turn West making our way to Ma’ale Akrabim, the Scorpions Ascent, considered by many to be one of the most beautiful rides (and certainly most challenging) in all of Israel. We will then climb this winding road with the view of the desert and the Edom Mountains. We will pass through the Hatira Crater, seeing the multi color sands, and arrive at the town of Yeruham for a break. From here we will continue riding to Sde Boker for a short lunch and then head to Ben Gurion’s memorial. We will then ride into Mitzpe Ramon and meet the rest of the group for Shabbat.

Saturday, April 26, 2013

No cycling today for all groups. We will daven together in the morning, Ramah style, and celebrate Shabbat together as a community. You will be free to walk along the cliff above the Ramon Crater or just relax at the hotel. After Havdallah, we will set out for a traditional Lag BaOmer bonfire!

Sunday, April 28, 2013

The ride will go from the high desert plain above the Ramon Crater and end at Ketura in the Arava region.

This group will bike out of Mitzpe Ramon and across the Ramon Crater. After passing through we will ride through the dry riverbeds of the Southern Negev, past the village of Shitim to Kibbutz Neot Smadar. We will stop for a short lunch break and then tour this unique desert community and the local art center. From here we will continue to ride an extra loop towards the village of Shacharut, then bike down the road to Kibbutz Ketura where we will be spending the night.

Monday, April 29, 2013

We will bike through the red rock mountains around Eilat and end at the shore of the Red Sea where we will meet for a toast. After freshening up at the hotel, we will celebrate all we have accomplished at a banquet dinner.

We will bike out of Ketura, and climb back to the desert plain. From here we start biking south towards Eilat. We will ride along the border with Egypt, looking into the Sinai Desert. This small road will take us from the Southern Negev to the Eilat Mountains. The road will climb up to the pass near Mt. Shlomo and from there we will descend towards Eilat on the shores of the Red Sea. We will add a few more miles by biking down to the Taba border crossing and then head to meet the other groups at the beach and celebrate our arrival with a cold beer and a swim in the cool water.

Wednesday, April 24, 2013

We will begin our day with an opening ceremony together with the Ramah Bike Riders just outside Bar Giora (a moshav about 30 minutes southwest of Jerusalem). From there we will be transported to Khirbet Hanot (on route 375) and begin to hike west, following an ancient Roman road. (See the description of the Caesar’s Route, though we will not be following the route exactly as indicated.) From time to time we will see milestones and pavement from the Roman period (63 BCE – ~350 CE).

We will continue on a trail along Nahal Hanetiv and have lunch just north of Kibbutz Netiv Halamed-Heh.

After a short ascent we will find ourselves at Khirbet Qeiyafa, a fascinating archaeological site which dates back to the beginning of the First Temple Period (10th century BCE). We will explore the site and enjoy the views of Emek HaEla (where David was said to have fought Goliath) and Tel Azeka. After meeting up with the bus, we will head to Kibbutz Mashabei Sadeh for dinner, an evening discussion, and a good night’s sleep!

Thursday, April 25, 2013

The bus will transfer us to the site of the Nabatean city of Avdat (along route 40, about a 15-20 minute drive). Here we will begin our hike to upper Ein Akev and then lower Ein Akev. The scenery is breathtaking! Those who wish will be able to refresh themselves in the fresh water of the Akev spring. Lunch will be brought to us along the way.

The last part of the hike will take us along the Divshon Ascent which leads into the Zinn Valley and the beginning of the Ein Avdat canyon. From there, the bus will transport us up the hill to the Ben Gurion College at Sde Boker, where we will visit the memorial site to David and Paula Ben Gurion, overlooking the Zinn Valley.

We will return to Mashabei Sadeh, where we will be joined by the Ramah Riders.

Friday, April 26, 2013

After an early breakfast at our hotel, we will drive to Mt. Avnun, just southeast of the town of Yeroham (route 204) overlooking the Makhtesh Gadol (Great Crater), where we will have a Shaharit/morning service and hear an explanation of how makhteshim were formed.

By bus, we will be transported to the eastern end of the Makhtesh Gadol to begin our hike. Hasnapir Hakatan (Little Fin) brings us out of the Makhtesh. We continue to Ein Yorke’am (with its beautiful waterholes) and then to view the spectacular scenery of Maaleh Hapalmach.

After lunch in the middle of the Makhtesh, we will drive to Mitzpe Ramon, arriving with ample time to prepare for Shabbat.

Kabbalat Shabbat services and dinner with the Ramah Riders.

Saturday, April 27, 2013

No hiking today. We will daven together in the morning, Ramah style, and celebrate Shabbat together as a community. You will be free to walk along the cliff above the Ramon Crater or just relax at the hotel. After Havdallah, we will set out for a traditional Lag BaOmer bonfire!

Sunday, April 28, 2013

After an early morning experience at Makhtesh Ramon we will travel by bus to Nahal Gevanim (literally: an array of colors) and a hike in Parsat Nekarot. Lunch will be brought to us along the route.

At the end of the hike, the bus will take us to Kibbutz Ketura where we will once again join the Ramah Riders.

Evening program together with the Ramah Riders provided by the staff of Keren Kolot at Kibbutz Ketura.

Monday, April 29, 2013

Our hike will start in the rocky mountains that surround the bay of Eilat. We will walk through the Netafim wadi northwest of the city. After viewing the majestic mountains, we will follow Netafim all the way to the beach front in Eilat. There we will meet with the Ramah Riders for a final ceremony.

We will head to our hotel, and enjoy the rest of the afternoon relaxing at the Red Sea.

For dinner we will join the Ramah Bike Riders and celebrate the end of our journeys.